We Are Everton
Ian MacDonald pens a tribute to Bernard Murphy

I always say that Evertonians are an extended family in good times and sad times we look after one another. No where has this bold statement not shone through more than with the events after the tragic death of Bernard Murphy Bernard was killed just outside the Walker Stadium in Leicester on his way to watch his beloveded Blues. He was just 40 at the time.

I have struggled with myself to write this following article surrounding Bernard and his family as I did not want to intrude into this humble working class family from Huyton. But over these last few months I have got to know Bernard’s family and when I asked if they minded if I wrote about what has happened.

Mr Murphy, John, said to me “Ian, we would love you to write an article about our Bernard so we could try and thank all the people who have made these last few months bearable. Football brings together people at times of joy and sadness, Our family will never be able to show the depth of our feelings towards everyone who has been there for us during and after Bernard’s loss. Not just the people on Merseyside but across Britain and the world ”

Bernard’s left his mother and father, John and Doreen his three sisters Dawn, Clare and Vicky, a brother John and a son also named John .
Bernard’s death was both savage and horrific by nature I’ve never known such a death near a football ground and not been hooligan related.

His bother John is in the army and has served in such war torn countries as Bosnia and Iraq.
Thinking of john’s occupation I can’t help thinking Bernard was killed in action following Everton.
I remember that fateful day at Leicester when Bernard died, how could you forget. The weather was atrocious especially the winds which were gale force, so much so many Midland football games were called off.
Stokes, Mansfield and Forest home games came to mind.

The weather made the game a lottery especially in the first half, during the half time interval their was talk of a fan being killed yards from outside the ground by flying debris. My first thought was I hope its not one of us, in hindsight it was a selfish thought, but I’m being honest.

The second half came and young Wayne scored but an injury time equaliser by our new summer signing Marcus Bent gave the home side an underserved point against Everton’s ten men.

After the game Evertonians congregated outside the waiting coaches, the wind had died down by then. I asked our police liaison officer, Ian Miller was it true that a fan had been killed before the game ? His reply was that sadly it was and it was one of us but no name was to be released yet. At that point the Evertonian grapevine went into overdrive to find out who it was. Phone calls abounded, concerned families on Merseyside rang to see if you were ok as the tragedy unfolded in the local and national media.

I was told it was one of the Huyton lads who went everywhere and we know him and he’s been on our coaches. .
Later on that sad journey home we found out it was Bernard Murphy, thought’s of it could have been any one of us outside that stadium such was the ferocity of the winds but fate delt Bernard a cruel hand that day. The simple fact was that Bernard would be alive today if he had not been so passionate in his following of Everton around the country.

Throughout the following week tributes poured into Bernard’s home , Goodison and the local papers. Merseyside was shocked yet again by a football related tragedy. God only knows what a horrible time it was for Bernard’s family and still is.

On the Friday night of that week, the eve of the Middlesbrough game, the Independent Blues decided they would like to help the Murphy family at this sad time so we decided to go on a fundraising collection with buckets to the pub’s around the ground before the game. You don’t realise the amount of watering holes Evertonians have until you tour them . Everyone we asked chipped in as well as the Shareholders Association.

Before the start of the Boro game there was a minutes silence impeccably respected. This is the first minute’s silence I can remember for an Everton fan within a few months a second will be held this week for Kenneth Bigly inhumanly murdered in Iraq a place Bernard’s brother John has tried to keep the peace in Basra.

Everton had done Bernard proud with a full page tribute to Bernard in the programme. As special guests of Bill Kenwright the Murphy family sat in the director’s box at Goodison to experience the sad sombre atmosphere given to their son, his spiritual home in more ways than one for Bernard.

Before the game Bill showed the Murphy’s to a room set up for some of the Everton staff to open the hundreds of letters of condolences sent in for this departed Blue.

On the Sunday after the game four of the Indy Blues went to take the donations we collected to Bernard’s home in Huyton. Barry, Graham, Mick and myself wondered what would we say to the family, what can you say in circumstances like this.

As we walked into the home of Bernard we all gave Mr Murphy a hug as if we had known him for years, thing is this is a fellow Blues family in trouble you don’t need no formal introductions.

John showed us the many telegrams and cards of condolence that had come from far off places like Barcelona, Ajax and the Ivory Coast.

Mr Murphy had lost his sister only the previous week and Bernard was a coffin bearer. I learnt later on that two of Bernard’s best mates died a couple of weeks either side of Bernard’s death. . Bernie Pugh and Roy Cavanagh.
Roy owned Mac Roofing and would only employ Evertonians as roofers.

A couple of days later Bernard was to be laid to rest at Yew Tree cemetery, before his burial a mass was held at St Aloysius church. This was possibly the biggest funeral I have ever witnessed. The church was so packed that a bigger congregation was outside even the Leicester manager Nicky Adams who travelled up could not get into the church. Everton were represented by David Moyes and several directors.

The funeral cortege was led in by a lone Scotch Piper, all the streets were lined with local people and fellow Blues.
An open backed lorry came with all the floral tributes from the local school kids, Bernard’s kids football teams, the workers and staff from Robinson Willey were Bernard worked and from hundreds of people Bernard never knew but they knew him as an Evertonian killed on his way to the match. Some of the school children’s plaques and shields they made out of love and respect were buried with Bernard. Bernard’s Dad, John, told me a funny story about Bernard and his sisters. He would always tell them to not go to the local sun bed centre because of his fears of them getting skin cancer. Not known to anyone Bernard would go to a certain shop every Friday night, a wreath was sent to the funeral from ……………the sun bed shop!

A stone plaques made by local school children

I knew Bernard fleetingly from coming on our away travel coaches a while back. A few years ago Everton sponsored an Irish team Home Farm, in Dublin . When Everton during the football season never had a game at the weekend we’d take a coach load over to Dublin via Holyhead to watch our adopted Irish team. On one occasion Bernard came with us with I think his great friend Mick Mathews.

We arrived at Home Park's ground just before mid day it had been heavily raining and we were greeted by a dishevelled grounds man who informed us that the game had been called off due to a waterlogged pitch. So the next question was arrowed to the grounds man “ Where’s the nearest pub open then mate?”

A day and night of beverage sampling ensued, next morning we had lost 15 of our party and had to go back the ferry. I think that still stands as a record amount of fans that have gone ‘missing’ on away games.
Bernard use to travel to all the away games with his mates Bully, Mick Mathews, Gary Lamont and Bernard May mostly in a car.

Bernard’s favourite player at the time was Duncan Ferguson. Now during that fateful match against Leicester Duncan was sent off for trying to break Steffan Fruend neck like one of his sick pigeons. Duncan was subsequently fined two weeks wages and banned for three games. I asked Everton if one week’s wages of the fine could be set aside for Bernard’s family but it must have got lost in the emails sent. It would have been a nice gesture but in Doreen’s words, Bernard’s mum, Everton have been out of this world to them none the less.

‘Yiffter ’was the nickname Bernard was known by, it comes from his football playing days when he was a pacey winger. Bernard coached the under 14’s and 11’s teams of Salerno who were based from the infamous Eagle and Child pub which incidentally has burned down and been replaced by a McDonalds.

I got a phone call from Graham one of the Indy Blues to tell me the manageress of Bernard’s local pub from his works was going to have a fundraising night for Bernard and could I help with securing some football items for auction. I rang Carol the pub manageress to say I would do all I can, by the way Carol what’s the name of your pub in the Old Swann “ The red house ”,came the reply I kid you not. It was where Bernard would drop in after work for a couple of pints with his workmates from Robinson Willey Now Bernard’s son John is a red, hard to believe but not really as Merseyside is full of mixed families, Bernard and John would argue all the time over their teams.
When Bernard died the local pub regulars of the Gardeners Arms in Huyton had a whip round to buy young John a season ticket for Anfield.

So we set about writing to all the Premiership and First division clubs chairmen plus a few in Scotland and elsewhere.

The response was good and as a rule of thumb the smaller the club the better the response despite them having little funding. I get a lot of shirts and kind letters from the Likes of Big Joe Royle of Ipswich and Paul Jewel of Wigan.
Every morning the postman would call to our house with autographed balls, signed shirts and pennants. The Postie whose a Blue knew what we were doing asked for an update on who has replied every morning to tell the lads back at the sorting office

I was thinking of doing a hall of fame and shame on who got back to us but its not me. All I’ll say is that two of this season’s Champions league qualifiers never bothered to respond, and its no use writing to the likes of Leeds, Spurs, Preston or Southampton as they have their own nominated charities and give to no one else whatever the circumstance . So when I think of what Val and Sharpie do in the same theme at our club all credit to them as I know from many sources our club does us proud when it comes to feeding the five thousand with charitable requests. There is no unlimited budget for such deeds and we have a hell of a fan base to help out.

On the day of Bernard’s do at his work place pub I was asked to come in by Carol our Mega store manager and Andy Hosie to pick a few items that might bring a good auction price, I was that kid in the sweet shop !Val and Sharpie gave me an autographed ball and shirt for the cause.

A special mention to Michael Ball senior and his brother Kevin who when hearing I was collecting merchandise gave me a signed Rangers shirt and a Champions league Ball. Kevin donated a limited edition pair of gold EFC cufflinks.

A few of the Indy Blues joined Bernard’s workplace mates at the pub that night, it was packed. The Murphy clan were present and must of felt some comfort in the tributes that came their way that night regarding Bernard.
We auctioned off not just the football memorabilia but the likes of TV’s , radios etc donated. I think it took two hours to auction them all off . A pair of signed Duncan’s boots were auctioned on the night, someone shouted out in the crowd “ Hardly worn !”.

It was funny at the end of the night watching little old ladies with club shirts on from the likes of Burnley, City, West ham, Sheff Wed, Wigan , Ipswich and Newcastle dancing the night away. It was a great night and a big thank you to Carol the manageress and the staff for a night to remember. And raising so much money.
A couple of weeks later an Arsenal signed shirt came and a Charlton signed ball. So I gave them to Steve Milne who helps run the Everton former players foundation to sell on E Bay and gave the proceeds to John and Doreen.

Shirts for auction behind the "Red House" bar

Duncan's Boots: "Hardly worn!"

Before the end of the season the free magazine given outside Goodison all season, Toffee Pages, had a Everton number nines dinner at the Marriot Hotel. Apart from the centre forwards of yester year that had graced Goodison Gordon Lee was guest of Honour It’s the first time back on Merseyside for the manager nicknamed ‘the screaming skull’.

Toffee pages were the brainchild of Tony Bennet and Frank Hargreaves. Tony and Frank decide that part of the charity auction would be set aside for Bernard. The Rooney clan were present at the night and young Wayne had donated a signed shirt which raised a large amount. The winners of the bid were Mark Cullen and his brother they really pushed the boat out for Bernard’s family, thanks lads.

At the last home game of the season against Bolton Everton provided four tickets for the Murphy family so that Tony and Frank could hand over the cheque raised by the auction to them ably assisted by Kevin Sheedy in the Legends lounge.

John Murphy accepts a cheque from Kevin Sheedy with Frank Hargreaves and Tony Bennet from ToffeePages

I think more than any other vessel the Evertonian web sites bring Evertonians together around the world with hot off the press news and information. Gone are the days of far flung Evertonians waiting for the ‘Pink’ to arrive by air mail.

The winner of the ‘Super Kev’ boots was John Pendleton from Middlesbrough who was presented with his prize before the Real Sociedad game. John Murphy was invited to see the presentation. A special mention must go to Jamie Macdonald (no relation) who was pipped by Mr Pendleton at the auction but still gave a sizeable donation, This just typifies Evertonians, well in Jamie.

Recently Bernard’s headstone has been erected at the cemetery. The following day after its installation a unknown school kid was spotted laying a line of painted Blue and White sea shells on the grave.

Before the start of the new season Everton decided to erect banners proclaiming the varied fan base of the Peoples club. From the youngest to the oldest Evertonian, the biggest Evertonian family and so on. To be given the privilege of this honour of being on a banner the local paper the Echo was enlisted to ask supporters to nominate fans. Bernard was easily the most popular candidate to be a recipient of a banner to be hung outside Goodison Road.

On the day of the unveiling of the banners Mr& Mrs Murphy were invited down with the other fans to be honoured, it was a day that made Doreen and John very proud and a touching memorial of their son. I was outside Goodison one night for a media quote regarding the power struggle at the board when John, Bernard’s brother, drove up. He was in a car full of mates to see Bernard’s newly erected banner. One of them was a red who said “You know you lot (meaning Evertonians) have been brilliant with John’s family as a red I just want to say loads of respect for that”.
The other week was the inquest into Bernard’s untimely death. Bernard’s brother John friends Mick Mathews, Christie, Terry O’Donnell, Billy Roberts and Tommy Bird travelled back down to Leicester. It must have been particularly hard for Mick Mathews who was with Bernard at the time of the accident with young Kevin his son. The judge gave the verdict of accidental death. I know a couple of other lads who were at the scene when Yiffter died.

Tony Redfern one of my mates said “As you know Ian the winds were hurricane like that day and we were walking past a building site just behind Bernie’s party. A hardboard sheet was lifted up and sent hurling towards us, it bounced on the floor once and hit Bernard side on the head, he had no chance. Tony tried to resuscitate Bernard but to no avail so he cradled him in his arms till the ambulance came. Peter Jones, the Leicester Executive, took Bernard’s party to the ground were he showed them the garden of rest which was made in honour of Bernard were he fell. There a wreath with the clubs crest was laid next to the monument the good people of Leicester had provided to Bernard.

Mr Jones then took time to take the party on a tour of the new Walker stadium and lunch.
Mr Murphy told me a story about another tragedy that occurred that day when they lost Bernard. A overturned lorry killed two young Leicester fans but still their parents found enough time to send a letter of condolence to the Murphy’s.

John and Doreen have been very touched by the Leicester people and the football clubs staff and local police.
This Sunday gone was the annual L13 marathon run which is held to raise funds for nine local charities. . This year it was in honour of Bernard . Last year over 5000 runners took part and more were expected yesterday . As a bit of spice running teams from Everton and Liverpool fans compete with eachother with times collectively.
With Davey’s team currently above Raphael Beneath us team I hope we win and stay above them till the end of the season.

Mr Murphy says to me “I just hope we finish in the top six this season it would be great”. You see its always ‘we’ with our extended family and over the years when I’ve seen Blues in trouble when it comes to talking about Everton their eyes light up as if it’s the only thing that can brighten up a sad time and lighten things up.

Kenneth Bigly, the man slaughtered in Iraq, comes from Walton and was an Evertonian his sad death in a far off country shows you don’t have to live in Merseyside and be an Evertonian. Kenneth’s new life took him to live in Thailand but he was still an Evertonian, once you have been chosen you can live anywhere, come from anywhere and be a Blue . People can’t get to Goodison for one reason or another but still have Everton in their hearts and thoughts. I hate seeing our clubs motto at the end of family bereavement notices. I think there’s another one of us gone.

When the custodians of the club take over the business they also take on the hopes and dreams of this great fan base. Thing is the real owners of the club are its fans, without the fans there would be no club, we are the life support of this institution. That is why people are so passionate about the club, its our club and the family of Evertonians have a standard set in their minds of were the club should be, when that standard falls some of us shout out because we care not because we are trouble makers . Without Everton we would have less friends and contacts if you needed help. If you take away the numbers in your phone Everton related how many would you have left ? I’d have a third in my case and I have hundreds of numbers in my phone.

We talk about Everton or go the game for debate and a release from our working lives, we wish them to do well and when one of our extended family falls we register it more into our minds and hearts. Bernard’s death hit home a 9 on the Richter scale of Evertonian losses, I think the help and thoughts given to the Murphy family shows that
WE ARE EVERTON!

BERNARD MURPHY R. I. P.
Born an Evertonian died an Evertonian.

This article was written as a tribute to Bernard and his family and a thank you to all the people who have helped the Murphy’s since Bernard has departed us
Ian Macdonald Independent Blues